Schiphol adds six new de-icing vehicles to snow clearance fleet

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has expanded its snow clearance fleet with six new de-icing spray vehicles. The purchase of these six vehicles marks the phased replacement of the airport’s entire fleet of de-icing spray vehicles.

Schiphol Group Executive Vice President and COO, Ad Rutten: ’Last year we conducted a successful pilot project with this type of spraying machine. This type of de-icing vehicle will enable us to combat snow and ice at the airport even more effectively. The spraying technology used by these vehicles is better for the environment, is more efficient and, as a result, less expensive in use. For these reasons we decided to order another half-dozen of these vehicles this year.’

Spraying efficiently
The vehicles are made by Dammann, in Germany. One of the key features of the new vehicles is the use of DGPS software, which allows them to accurately detect areas that have already been sprayed. As soon as the operator drives across a section that has already been sprayed, the nozzles will be switched off automatically. They will start spraying again as soon as the vehicle exits the sprayed area. In addition, during night-time spraying operations every nozzle is illuminated individually with an LED light.

Snow clearance at Schiphol
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol employs professional snow squads that minimise the effects of snow and ice on air traffic. The airport has over a hundred special snow clearance vehicles at its disposal. The fleet includes snow ploughs, snow blowers and spraying vehicles for the runways and taxiways and shovels, snow blowers and spraying vehicles for the aircraft stands. There are also cranes for loading the snow onto huge trucks and trucks with sufficient capacity to transport enormous loads of snow, as well as small and large snow ploughs and gritting vehicles for public roads, car parks and bicycle paths. A total of 450 persons are at work day and night to keep the airport free of snow and ice.

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Note for editors:
For further information, please contact the Schiphol Group Press Office on +31(0)20 - 601 2673 or at press@schiphol.nl.